Man attempts to rob bank, kills self

Topeka  A 64-year-old man who shot himself Wednesday after demanding money at a bank, then leaving before getting any, likely acted alone, the FBI said.

"We have an official investigation open, but it looks like he is the only suspect," said FBI spokesman Jeff Lanza in Kansas City, Mo.

Lanza said the man, whose identity hasn't been released, went into a US Bank branch on the city's west side about 10 a.m., presented a note to a teller indicating a robbery and said he had a gun. He said the man didn't show a gun and left without taking any money. No bank employees were injured.

Investigators haven't determined a motive, Lanza said.

Afterward, the bank closed its doors, which is typical in such cases, and taped a note to the front door: "This office is temporarily closed due to an emergency." Bank officials refused to comment.

Topeka police said bank employees reported a description of the man and his maroon Buick, including tag number. Officers pulled him over in a parking lot of a psychiatric clinic operated by Stormont-Vail Health Center. The man stopped his car and an officer saw the man shoot himself.

Police said the man was a Kansas resident, but not from Topeka, and died at a local hospital.

Nancy Shaughnessy, who works at a nearby funeral home, said she heard the noise of sirens and then saw an ambulance leaving.

"It left real fast so I thought somebody had been hurt," she said.

The parking lot is located near the intersection of two major city streets.